Compressor.



F. w. WOLF.

' CO MRHESSOR. APPLICATION FILED DBL- 1916- Patented Mar. 4, 1919. i

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. W. WOLF. COMPRESSOR.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC-4. I916- 1,295,947.

' Patented Mar. 4,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FRED W. WOLF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMPRESSOR.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

Application filed December 4, 1916. Serial No. 134,792.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED W. WOLF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compressors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact. description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference. marked thereon,

which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n compressors and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One object of the invention is to provide a compressor which may be driven at a maximum of efiiciency by means of a small motor of low power, which is noiseless in operation and which is of cheap andeconomical construction.

Another object of the invention is to providea compressor, suit-able for use in connection with refrigerating apparatus and which has positive and mechanically operated valves.

These and other advantages of the 1mproved compressor will appear as I pro- 30 ceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view representing a longitudinal, central section through the compressor.

Fig. 2 is a view showing a transverse section through the compressor'in a plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a sectional enC. elevation of the compressor, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the movable member of the valve mechanism of the compressor.

Fig. 5 represents a transverse section through one of the valve chests and its associated cylinder.

Fig. 6 represents a transverse section through the Scotch yoke which forms part of the crank mechanism of the compressor, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of the compressor.

Figs. 8 and 9 represent transverse secprovides bearing mounted on the bearing plate tions through the valve chests and cylinders of the modified construction.

ig.- 10 is a perspective view of one of the movable members of the valve mechanism used in the modified construction.

eferring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and particularly to that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive:

11 indicates as a whole compressor. Said casing of a cylindrical shell 12 and of two end members or heads 13, 13 which close the ends of said shell and which are provided with integral end-wise extending cylinders 14, 14. The cylinders have their central axes in the same line which is coincident with the central axis of the cylindrical shell 12. The heads 13 are in the form of circular plates 13 made integral with the cylinders and having radial ribs 13 which brace and support the cylinders 14 beyond said plates. The plates 13 are secured to the casing of the consists generally the ends of the cylindrical shell 12 by screws or in any other convenient manner.

15 indicates the driving shaft of the compressor. Said shaft is mounted in the shell 12 intermediate the ends of-the shell (as shown half way between said ends) and is located in a horizontal plane with its longitudinal central axis intersecting the line of the aXes of the cylinders 14, 14. Said shaft has bearing in plates 16, 17 fixed to the sides of the shell 12 at suitable alined caring openings formed in said shell.

The plate 16 has a bearing sleeve 16 made integral with it and braced by means of connecting radial ribs 16". Said sleeve for one end of the shaft 15, but is spaced somewhat from the plate 16 to allow-room for an end thrust disk 15 fixed to the end of the shaft and acting to distribute the thrust of the shaft over a large surface of the plate 16. The plate 17 has a journal box 18 made integral with it and projecting from its outer face. "An annular flange 19 on its inner face rovides a stuffing box which is closed by a gland 20 shaft 15. Contractile, coiled springs 21connecting a radial flange 22 of the said gland with fixed parts on the 17, yieldingly hold the packing within the stu ng box and pins or studs 23 extending inwardly from said plate and engaged in suitable apertures in the said \Vithin the yoke is a port 38 'n'iembers and 25 indicates what is familiarly known as a Scotch yoke, mounted in a vertical plane within the shell12 and adapted for longl' tudinal reci rocable' bearing engagement therein, in tie line of the cylinders 14, 14. Said yoke carries oppositely,disposed pistons 26 at its ends, each piston being ble of reciprocation in an associated cy 1 mounted a vertica y reciprocating block 27 in which an eccentric disk 28, fixed to the shaft 15, has bearing. Thus the rotation of the shaft 15 producesa reciprocatory movement of the yoke and in consequence the required reciprocationof the pistons 26 in their respective cylinders.

The yoke 25 is preferably made oftwo U- shaped plates or ars each consist ng of an upright member 29 with the associa ton 26 extending from one side of it an two horizontal members 30, 30 which form the legs of the The horizontal legs 3-0v of the opposing U-plates forming the yoke are rovided with end tongues or extensions 31 and intervening notches'which dove-tail together as shown in Fig. The U-"plates or bars are held together and braced by means of tie rods and spacing sleeves32 located at he sides near the top and bottomof the 'oke. The block 27 is rovided at its ends with vertical ribs which have guiding en gagement in suitable grooves or ways forme on the inner faces of the vertical members 29 of the Uplates of the yoke.

At one side of each cylinder 14 is formed a tubular valve chest 33, with its longitudinal central axis parallel to that of the cylinder. As illustrated herein, the tubular valve chests of the two cylinders have their lon tudinal central axes in the same line as in t e case of the cylinders and the movable member of the valve is her which is made integral with a shaft common to both. 34, 34 indicate the rotary valve 35', the common shaft connecting the two.

n the preferred construction, the shaft 3:) and the two valve members 34 are turne from a single rod orbar which is-bored longitudinally to provide a passage-way 36. (See Fig. 4.) Each valve part 34 is of the, diameter of the bore of its valve chest in vwhich it rotates. It isprovided with an inlet port 37 which is adapted at one point of its rotation to come to register with at the end of its associated cylinder 14. On its opposite side and diametrically opposed to the port 37, the valve member 34 is provided with a longitudinal groove 39, one part of which is adapted to be brought to'register with the port 38 in the associated cylinder. Said groove, at the end toward the cylinder head is closed. Its other on one side end is 0 on and connects with the shel 12, so that said groove acts as a 13- chargeport and passage for the delivery of the compressed fluid to said shell.

or bar to form the two valve members and their common shafts, the shaft 35 intermediate the two valve members, and the ends 35' beyond said valve members are made of reduced diameter and the latter have suitable bearing in the outer ends of their respective valve chests. One valve chest is closed at its outer end. (See Fig. 1.) The other is provided with a threaded aperture in line with the bore of the valve members 34 and of their common shaft, and a nipple 40 engaged in said aperture, provides for the attachment of a conduit pipe (not shown) leading from the source of the supply of low pressure flui that is to be compressed :-as for example, in the case of the use of the compressor in the interior of connection with a refrigerating apparatus,

as illustrate 18 located in the bottom of the crank case, where it may priety, when the oil used for lubrication Wll have no deleterious effect upon is to be compressed, as when the oil is c1r-' culatedthrough the system. .When it is required to retain the oil in the crank case, said outlet would be placed at the top of the crank case. i

'The shaft of the rotary valve member is driven by suitable connections shaft 15. A worm ar 35 on the valve shaft is engaged j a worm 15* on the shaft 15. :iaid gear and worm a're designe to produce the rotary valves 34 in the proper timed relation to the rec procatory movement of the pistons. It will of course be understood that the discharge port and passa e 39 of one valve member 34 is in line with the inlet port 37 of the other valve member (as clearly shown n Fig. 4) so thatone cylinder is dischargmg when the other cylinder is drawing in fluid. v I The operation of the compressor is apparent from the foregoing description. The rotation of the shaft 15 produces a reciprobe placed with prothe fluid thatto the drive movement of the catory movement of the yoke 30 in the crank pistons 26 s the disorts are separated by an it'is apparent'that after the a cylinder been discharged from port is not opened until the piston has approached the end of its discharge stroke, so that the fluid i-s-compressed above the pressure in the crank casing before being delivered to said casing, with the result that the cylinder is completely emptied.

The action of the valves is definite and positive and exactly predetermined, and apparently they wil operate without noise.

The pressure upon the ends of the yoke will be balanced at all times and therefore the high pressure in the crank case will haveno effect to increase the power required to operate the pistons. Side thrust 'on the plstons is entirely eliminated, since bearing support for the pistons is provided by the yoke, which as has been pointed out, has reciprocable bearing in the shell, and the pistons.

themselves may be aptly called floating pistons.

The stufiing box inclosed by the fla '19,

being on the inside of the'lcrank case, 1s what may be termed an oil-wfe't and an oil-cooled stuffing box. The oil its continuously renewed from the crank case and is supplied to the stuffing box under 'the high pressure that exists in the crank ease. This increases the efficiency of the seal provided by the stuffing box and prolongs .the'life of the packing.

. In the modification shown in Figs. and v 10, the construction of the compressor is in every way similar to that above described, excepting in the matter of the valves. In this case, there are provided separate inlet. and outlet rotary valve. members for each cylinder and separate valve chests forthe same. The parts that are unchanged are. indicated by the same reference numerals.

42, 43 indicate the valve chests of the cylinders 14", 14" of the modified construc-' tion of the compressor. The valve chests 42 contain the inlet valves and the valve chests 43 contain the outlet or discharge'valves.

The discharge valve is illustrated in Fig. 10. It includes the rotary valve members 34", 34" and the intermediate common shaft 34 as before. T he valve members and the connecting valve shaft are hollow. andthe valve members are provided near their ends with discharge ports 39", 39". The saiddischarge ports, instead of discharging alongside the commonshaft as in the other case, in the modification, discharge into the interior of the bore of the shaft'which is provided intermediate the valve parts with a plurality of ports 39 for the direct discharge into the crank casing.

The inlet valve is identical with the discharge valve except that its connecting shaft contains no openings connected with the crank case. Instead, one open end connects with the inlet nipple as heretofore described. The ports 37" of each valve part are in this case inlet ports. It will be understood, of course, that in the modification, the inlet ports 37" of theone valve andthe discharge ports 39" of the other valve are spaced apart. an angular distance of 180 degrees.

Each valve chest 42, 43 is connected with its associated cylinder by -means of ports 42?, 43, one of which, 42, is always an inlet port and the 'other. of which is always an outlet or discharge port. Each valve. memher is provided with aworm gear 35" which is engaged by the common worm 35 on th drive shaft.

The operation of the-modified compressor While in describing my invention I have referred. to certain details of construction and of mechanical arrangement, it is to be understood that the invention is to be in no way limited thereby, except as pointed'out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A compressor, comprlsing a casing consisting of a shell and of heads provided with oppositely dlsposed cyllnders, pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a drive shaft mounted in said shell, means intermediate said drive shaft and said pistons for reciprocating them in unison, valve mechanism associated with each cylinder adapted to discharge in to the said shell. and means intermediate said shaft and said'valve' mechanism for operating said valve mechanism.

2. A com 'ressor, comprising a casing consisting of a shell and of heads provided'with oppositely" disposed cylinders, floating pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a drive shaft mounted in said shell, means interme;

diate said drive shaft and-saidpistons' for providing bearing reciprocable' support for them and for'reciprocating them in unison, valve mechanism associated with each cylinder adapted to discharge into the said shell, and means intermediate said shaft and said valve mechanism for operating said valve mechanism.

3. A compressor, comprising a casing con- BEST COPY sisting of a shell and of heads provided with oppositely disposed cylinders, pistons reciproeable in said cylinders, a drive shaft mounted in said 5 ell, means intermediate said drive shaft-and said pistons for reciprocating them in unison, valve mechanism associated with each cylinder adapted todischarge into said shell and comprising a tubular valve casing and a cylindrica valve member movable therein, and means intermediate said shaft and said valve mechanism for operating said valve mechanism.

4. A compressor, comprising a casing consisting of a shell and of heads provided with oppositely disposed cylinders, floating pistons rcciprocable in said cylinders, a drive shaft mounted in said' shell, means intermediate said drive shaft and said. pistons for providing bearing reciprocable support for them and for reciprocating them in unison, valve mechanism associated with each cylinder ada ited to discharge into said shell and comprising a tubular valve casing and a cylindrical valve member movable there- 1n, and means intermediate said shaft and said valve mechanism for operating said valve mechanism.

5. A compressor, comprising a casing consisting of a shell and of heads provided with alined. oppositely disposed cylinders, a drive. shaft mounted in said shell with its axis at ri ht angles to the axis of said cylinders, a \(fifll adapted L) be reciprocated in said shell by said drive shaft, pistons connected to said yoke, valve mechanism associated with each cylinder adapted to discharge into said shell, and means intermediate said shaft and said valve mechanism for operating said valve mechanism.

6. A compressor, comprising a casing consisting of a shell and of heads provided with opposite disposed cylinders, pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a drive shaft moan,- ed in said shell, means intermediate said drive shaft and said pistons for reciprocating them in unison. valve mechanism associated with each cylinder adapted to dischargeinto said shell, said valve mechanism comprising a valve casing and a valve member rotative therein. and means intermediate said shaft and said valve mechanism for operating said valve mechanism.

7. A compressor, comprising a casing consisting of a shell and of heads provided with oppositely disposed cylinders, floating pistons rcciprocable in said cylinders. a drive shaft mounted in said shell, means intermediate said drive shaft. and said pistons for providing bearing reciprocablc support for them and for reciprocating them in unison. valve mechanism associated with each cylindor adapted to discharge into said shell, said valve mechanism comprising a valve casing and a valve member rotative therein. and means intermediate said shaft and said valve mechanism for operating said valve mechanism.

8. A compressor, comprising a casing consisting of a shell and of heads provided with opposltely disposed cylinders, pistons reciprocable in said 0 'hnders, a drive shaft mounted in said s ell, means intermediate said drive shaft and said pistons for reciprocating them in unison, valve mechanism associated with each cylinder adapted to discharge into the said shell consisting of a valve casin and of a-valve lug rotative in said casing, a common sha t connecting the rotative valve members associated with the two cylinders, and gearing intermediate said valve shaft and said drive shaft.

9. A compressor, comprising a casing consistingof a shell and of heads provided with oppositely disposed c 'linders, a drive shaft mounted in said she l a yoke reciprocable in said shell, said yoke consisting of two U-shaped bars each of which has n pis ton reciprocable insaid cylinders, means connecting the said U-shaped bars together, a block reciprocable in said yoke, an cecentric fixed to said shaft in the lane of said yoke and operatively engagec in said block, a gear on said drive shaft, a rotativc tubular valve member associated with each c 'linder and adapted to discharge into said shell, said valve members having a common connecting shaft, and a ear on said common connectin shaft mes ing with the gen r on said drive 5 laft.

10. A compressor, comprising a casinL' consisting of a shell and of heads fixed to the ends of said shell, said heads having oppositely disposed cvlindcrs and opposltely disposed valve chests, the ussociuleii cylinder and valve chest of each head having a communicating passageway, pistons reciprocable in said cylinders, a voke operative y connectin said pistons so tha they reciprocate in unison, a drive shaft mounted in said shell, means intermediate said yoke and shaft for reciprocati.- said yoke, a tubular rotative valve mem er mounted in said valve chests, said valve member having ports and grooves adapted to register with th communi atin passageways between said cylind' s an said valve chests, tht ports in said valve opcratively conncctin, said cylinders with the interior of said tubu lar valve member and said grooves opera ti\ely connecting said cvlin-"ers with th interior of said shell, and gearing bctwee said valve member and shaft for rotatin said valve member.

1]. A compressor, comprising a casin consisting of a shell and of heads fixed 1 the ends of said shell, said heads having cy inders arranged in line, a transverse sha journaled in said shell, a yoke reciprocal in said shell, and OWI'lItlVel) driven frr said drive shaft. sni yoke consisting of t" U-shaped bars each of which has an integral piston head reciprocable in an associated cylinder, each of said U-s haped bars comprlslng upright members and horizontal.

members, said horizontal members having inter-engaging tongue and groove connections, said horizontal members being adapted for sliding bearing upon the inner surface of said shell, and spacing means connecting the upright members of said U,

shaped bars together.

12. A compressor, comprising a casing consisting of a shell and of heads provided with oppositely disposed cylinders, a transverse drive shaft journaled in said shell, a

Witnesses:

reciprocating yoke in said shell, said yoke consisting of two U-shaped bars each of which has an integral piston head reciprocable in an associated cylinder, each of said bars-comprising an upright member having a vertical groove in its inner face and of horizontal members engaging each other at their ends, a vertically reciprocating block having ribs engaged in the grooves of said upright members, an eccentric disk fixed to said shaft and rotatable in said block and spacin means connecting the upright mem bers 0 said U-shaped bars together.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 22nd day of November A. D. 1916.

, FRED W. WOLF.

F. H. ALFREDS, KARL W. DoLL. 

